Armor

I'm happy with Recruit right now, but I could see moving to Mark VI at some point. I've started to come around on some of the armor like Aviator, CIO, Commando, Enforcer, Gungnir, Orbital, Warrior, Rogue. It's ironic that the Specialization armor is by far the worst in the game since it's considered "special".

Looks like the eagle on the shield I've used since Halo 2 is gone. Bummer.

I noticed that there are still some missing from this list so it could still be around somehow. When I was at PAX I noticed a long list of animal emblems, like the shark for example that they use for red team when you start the game. There was definitely a sting-ray and a trex which I remember.

A lot of people have been wondering when / how you unlock each armor set, and have been asking for a list. The game only shows you locked armor when you're already making progress, there are many, many more armor pieces in the game than you can see. I've been searching the internet and have yet to find anything close to a compiled list... So how about we come together and make one? (FAQs after the list!)ARMOR UNLOCKS
Ranks
Recruit : Starting Armor
Warrior : Reach the Rank of SR-8
Air Assault : Reach the Rank of SR-11
Soldier : Reach the Rank of SR-15
Aviator : Reach the Rank of SR-17
Defender : Reach the Rank of SR-21
Recon : Reach the Rank of SR-26
EVA : Reach the Rank of SR-27
Warmaster : Reach the Rank of SR-37
Scout : Reach the Rank of SR-38
Orbital : Reach the Rank of SR-41
Infiltrator : Reach the Rank of SR-42
Hazop : Reach the Rank of SR-43
EOD : Reach the Rank of SR-45
Oceanic : Reach the Rank of SR-47
Enforcer : Reach the Rank of SR-50Commendations
Mark VI: Legendary Commendation : Complete the campaign on Legendary (Solo or Co-op) [See FAQs]
Commando : Dominion Victory Master
Gungnir : Slayer Victory Master
C.I.O. : Spartan Slayer Master
Ranger : Combat Opportunity Master
Venator : Assassin Master
Vanguard : Forerunner Enemy Mastery
Protector : UNSC Loadout Master
E.V.A. BRCH : Hail of Death Master
Infiltrator TRAC : Multikill Master
Defender CTRL : Bullet in the Brain Master
Soldier ZNTH : Spartan Spree Master
Recon Surge : Covenant Loadout Mastery
Warrior Matrix : Forerunner Loadout Mastery
Enforcer Tribal : Turret Mastery
Protector Drift : Weapon Mastery
Orbital AEON : Covenant Destroyer
Aviator Bond : Wheelman Mastery
Air Assault Verg : Vehicle Mastery
Soldier Zenith : Spartan Spree Mastery
Ranger STRK : Protector Mastery
EOD Shadow : Hail to the king Mastery
Vanguard Converge : Flag Victory Mastery
Scout APEX : Oddball Victory Mastery
Commando FRCT : Flood Victory Mastery
Contoured arms CHVR : Perfection Mastery
Recruit Legs Tiger : Exterminator Mastery
Twin-Plated AEON : Close Quarters Mastery
Contoured leg CHVR : Payback MasteryLimited
Raider: Halo Waypoint Classified Unlock
Strider : War Games Map Pass or Limited Edition Halo 4
Scanner : War Games Map Pass or Limited Edition Halo 4
Recruit PRIME : Limited Edition Halo 4
FOTUS: Limited Edition Halo Xbox
Hazop FRST: Pre-order from Gamestop
Vernator Raptor : Pre-order from BestBuy / Mighty Ape
Oceanic CIRCUIT : Pre-order from Walmart
C.I.O. WEB : Pre-order from Amazon
Gungnir Pulse : Pre-order from MS Store / Mighty Ape
Deadeye : Pre-order from BestBuy / Play.com
Locus : Pre-order from Future Shop / Mighty Ape or Play Mountain Dew King of the Hill iPhone app gameSpecializations
Wetwork: Specialization
Pioneer: Specialization
Engineer: Specialization
Tracker: Specialization
Rogue: Specialization
Stalker: Specialization
Pathfinder: Specialization
Operator: SpecializationVisors
Visor Recruit (Blue) - Starting
Visor Blindside (Dark Red) - Earn the Commendation Avenger Master
Visor Cyan (Light Blue)- Earn the Commendation From the Brink Master
Visor Frost (White) - Reach the Rank of SR-29
Visor Legendary (Gold) - Complete the campaign on Legendary (Solo or Co-op)
Visor Midnight (Black) - Reach the Rank of SR-46
Visor Solar (Red) - Reach the Rank of SR-20
Visor Verdant (Green) - Earn the Commendation Splatter Master
Visor Sunspot (Purple & Blue) - Earn the Commendation Assistant Master
Additionally each Specialization unlocks a special visor, usually two-toneStances
Recruit - Starting
Heroic - Reach the Rank of SR-10
Assassin - Reach the Rank of SR-32
Last Stand - Reach the Rank of SR-50
Breach - Earn the Commendation UNSC Weapons Master
Standoff - Earn the Commendation Covenant Ordnance Mastery
Believe - Earn the Commendation Forerunner Ordnance Mastery
Assault - Earn the Commendation First Strike MasterEDIT: Frequently Asked Questions (Moved from top)
Why make this list?
The game itself doesn't tell you how to get these armor pieces until you're already making progress. If you have a piece that you really want, it can be frustrating to just level and hope you stumble into it. Finding out that a specific commendation is what you should work on lets you focus on getting that piece.HOW DO SPECIALIZATIONS WORK?
Specializations are unlocked when you reach max level (50). Then you pick one, and level it up to 10. When you finish it, you unlock the associated bonuses, and get to pick a new one to work on. They're Halo's "prestige" system, more or less. Leveling it unlocks the armor pieces as you go. Each specialization unlocks an armor set, a skin for that armor, a weapon skin, a custom visor color, and the specialization ability. These are loadout abilities which are very good and can only be acquired by leveling your specializations. Normally you only start with 2 specs available, and it is uncertain how you will access the others. People who purchased the LE or play Halo 4 before the end of November will have access to all specializations as soon as they hit 50.I didn't get the Mark VI unlock even though I bet the game on Legendary! What gives?!
Some people have complained they beat the game and didn't unlock this. Check your Legendary Commendation. The servers were probably down and you probably missed credit for 1 or 2 levels, you'll just need to do those again. Sorry.
Confirmed : You can get the Mark VI if you complete some missions solo and some co-op.How do I switch between different skins?
Alternative "skin" patterns for weapons and armor are treated as seperate items which perform the exact same as the normal items. For example, the arctic BR works just like a normal BR. You will have 2 BRs in your inventory to choose from for your loadouts. You can get a skin for a weapon you haven't unlocked yet (they're seperate weapons) such as getting the Hazop FRST as soon as you enter a preorder code, but you still have to unlock the regular Hazop seperately. After doing so, you will have both available as options. Anything with FRST or AEON after it is a skin.
How do I unlock the Chest piece / Shoulder piece?
Most of these will unlock a helmet, both shoulders, and the chest at the same time. (Most helms have matching chest and shoulders). Legs and arms are separate unlocks not tied to the helmet/shoulder/chest set.How do I get X Master Commendation?
Commendations can be viewed and tracked from the player menu where you can choose your loadout and armor, go up and view your commendations, it should be in the middle. Each one when completed will unlock the next rank of the same commendation, and Master is the final rank for each.Is this everything?
Probably not. There's at least a few skins not on this list, and a several arms and legs aren't on the list. Furthermore, nobody can get all the achievements since some depend upon having future Spartan Ops missions not currently available. So there could be some kind of Hayabsa or Mark V, but try not to get your hopes up too much. These are all the same sets that were shown off before the game was released.

Funny thing is, I hate the Halo 3 Hayabusa armor because it just looks so out of place and unnecessary compared to the other armors. This is exactly how I feel about 90% of Halo 4's selection, however, so while I think it had no place in Halo 3? It certainly would fit right in with the bullshit Halo 4 is standardizing.